Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1887-01-02

On tie 17sh Of suly, 1854, the Con
gress Of tha United states gave Wash
iugton Territory two town hips OF land
TOT the purpase Of establishing q Uni-
versity. THIS land vas 60 be selected
BY tbs Territorial Legislature. and &C.
soT3inRiy the Legislature located The
University ak Seattle July 49sh, 1855
with . braneh at B0isfoFt Prairie. in
Lewis county, and ordered The land q
be equally divided between the two; bnl
nothlRR further vas doRs for the next
three years.
January 3osh. 1853. thu University was
relocated ~ Cowlitz Prairie. tbs tive
branches being eonsoiic ated. For two
years nothing was done 20 establish the
school, snd IA December, 1850, Il was
agreed again 10 remove the University
70 Seattle, provided the people Of Seattle
xoaid give to the Territory 3 suitable
site fer the school, and January 1lth.
1861. Daniel Baeiey. John Webster snd
Edmund Carr we're appointed BY the
Leeisl stnre 10 select the site, select end
cell tina land given By Congress and
Apply the pfeceeds IN erecting suitable
buildings.
TIE Commissioners at oRcs set 10
work to psrfoEm the duties assigned
them. fnev accepted the gift Of ten
acres Of land made By A. A. DeanY, @. O.
terry and Edward Lander, of which
Mr.. Denny gave eight acres and frAe-
tion, and the othef too gentiemen the
remainder.
This tract at that tins vas dense
forest, for At that early esY Seattle was
hns a village Of about $50 Inhabitants
dWslling near 0emmefoial street.
The University lands were sold, the
site cleared and fenced, and NAY 20fh,
1861, the corner stene Of TIE University
vas piaesd in position with appropriate
ceremonies. In the fall Of 1862 the
buildings we're completed and the doors
opened or students, Prof. A. :. Mercer
being the first President. h vas fol.
lowed By Praf. &. w. Barnard and
Prof. George +. Nhitworth, each hold
ne the eflcs for about vo years.
Tha university was then closed for
tru years, when IN the fall Of 1870 Prof.
J.. Il. Hail took charge and ftmsinsd Is
President Of the school for three wears.
Then for eight months Mr.. + II. Whit
worth and Miss IhsgeF had charge.
Prof. George F. Whitwogth was AZ in
President Of toe University from The
fall Of 1874 10 tbs summer Of 1875.
The university was then closed for the
want OF funds until the fan Of 1877,
when Prof. A. y. Andersen vas elected
President for I've years. Daring bis
administration the standard OF the
school uas raised and regular collegiate
work established.
In tue fan q 1892 Prof. L. ]. Powell
was elected President. which position be
stIli holds. lie, together wish his $3.50
ciates in the faculty. are taor0axh aad
capable educators, making this ene OF
The best working faculties on the Coast
PRESENT. eoSDrrIos.
1he University at press1i Is better
equipped and il doing more efiaient
scnosl work than that Of any other
period Of It's exissence, and Will CON
pare favoraDiy With any other iustitC-
lioa OF learning in the West. LIS faculty
Il composed Of teachers. each OF whom
u specialist in his departmeut. IL
mas q fiue Iibrars If about 30 0 sslnmes.
t. when additions are made frola time
TO time. Tue last Territorial Leaisia
tuFe made az appropriation for The
Uaivefsity library, 70 be applied an
nuaily 10 the purchase OF books
The philosophical and chemical
laboratory is furnished With all tbs
necessary apparatus for illustrating the
latest phases Of scientifie devel 1pment
Among tne special pieces mlRht be
mentioned q Leople- hsitz electrical
machiae, Kiison's ph0nogra2b, Giss-
leF's tubes, thirty mile indastlon asll,
several patterns Of eleetIoal light, Q
forty cell battery, etc. Besides this
there IS a fne cabinet oonaiEtfnR OF
specimens illustrating all the depart
ments Of nAtnral history. This ia
clndes Prof. o. b. Johnson's coilecsi8n,
one Of the most complete nnseums Of
natural specimens ia the nsrth Sest.
Last year tee Young NaturalIsts, q
sociefy composed OF Ep1ng men, most
OF whom have been students IN the Uai
versify, erected building on she west
side Of the University grounds 0x50
feet, aud tWo stories high, With q base
uaent costing $500. Ihis building u
occupied Is q museam of nAfafal his
iry, and BY the art department., uadsf
the manaesmsnt Of Miss X. d, Almond.
Attached % the University are two
ssga doEmitOTiss, oRe for youag men
and one fer youna women. Both are
we'll Furnished and are comfortable ana
homellke TO stndeAts attending the Uut-
vsrsify fram abroad. Miss L J. BFOUs,
she precsplrass, exercises = osrsfal 50.
pervisi0u ever tbs yoHng women attend
ing the UayeFsify.
The preset year has been the most
sucees sful one IN the hi tors of the
school. The attendance IL larRer than
ever bsfcFs. and 81 parts Of Washington
Territory are represented IN shs Uolvsr
sity By students.
couHsEs OF STUDY.